Fighter Aircraft
Boeing F-47
The Boeing F-47 is the US Air Force’s planned sixth-generation air-superiority fighter, developed under the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programme. Selected in March 2025, it is intended to succeed the F-22 Raptor and to lead teams of uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
United States|BoeingOverview
President Trump announced Boeing as the NGAD winner over Lockheed Martin at the White House on 21 March 2025. The Engineering and Manufacturing Development contract is publicly reported to be worth more than US$ 20 billion, with Boeing Phantom Works leading the design and assembly taking place in St. Louis. The name honours the P-47 Thunderbolt and 1947, the year the US Air Force was founded. Most details remain classified, and officials have said the released renderings deliberately hide the real shape.
A 2025 Air Force infographic gives only minimum figures: a combat radius of more than 1,000 nautical miles (about 1,850 km), a top speed above Mach 2 and a planned fleet of 185 or more aircraft. Manufacturing of the first EMD aircraft was reported to be under way by September 2025, with first flight targeted for 2028. The fighter is meant to work alongside drones such as the YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A. Its engine has not been officially named, and there are no export customers.
Key Specifications
Variants
Experimental demonstrators that the Air Force says have flown since about 2020 to mature NGAD technologies; they are not the F-47 itself.
Engineering and Manufacturing Development aircraft being built in St. Louis, with the first flight targeted for 2028.
Planned production fighter, with at least 185 aircraft envisaged and initial operational use mentioned for around 2029.
Operators
United StatesFrequently Asked Questions
When will the F-47 fly?
The F-47’s first flight is targeted for 2028. Manufacturing of the first development aircraft was reported to be under way by September 2025, and officials have spoken of initial operational use around 2029, but these are goals rather than achieved dates.
How much does the F-47 cost?
No unit price for the F-47 has been published. The Air Force says it will cost less per aircraft than the F-22, while the development contract alone is reported to be worth more than US$ 20 billion.
Is the F-47 better than the F-22?
On paper it should be, at least in range: the Air Force says the F-47 will have a substantially greater combat radius than the F-22, reported as about 70% more, along with improved stealth. Its real performance will only be known after flight testing.
How fast is the F-47?
The F-47’s official top speed is listed only as Mach 2+, a minimum rather than an exact figure. The Air Force also gives a combat radius of more than 1,000 nautical miles, or about 1,850 km.
F-47 vs J-36: which is more advanced?
Nobody can say yet. The F-47 is still in development, and China’s tailless J-36 prototype, first seen in December 2024, is also largely secret. Both are described as sixth-generation designs, but neither has publicly verified performance figures.
Who makes the F-47?
Boeing makes the F-47. The company beat Lockheed Martin for the NGAD contract in March 2025, with Boeing Phantom Works leading the design and assembly taking place in St. Louis, Missouri.
Latest News on Boeing F-47
October 6, 2026What Weapons Will the F-47 Carry? Missiles, Bombs and Open Questions
October 5, 2026F-47 vs F-22: Is the New Fighter Really Better Than the Raptor?
October 5, 2026When Will the F-47 Fly? First Flight Date, Schedule and Risks
October 5, 2026What Is the F-47? America’s Sixth-Generation Fighter Explained
August 3, 2026Boeing F-47 NGAD Program Enters Test Production Phase for 2028 Flight
August 1, 2026The 6th-Generation Fighter Revolution: Everything You Need to Know About the Boeing F-47 NGAD